Firefighters were called to a fire at the alleyway at the rear of a large soft play centre in Basildon.

When fire crews arrived they reported the fire was quickly developing and had spread inside the building.

Firefighters immediately got into the building and quickly got the fire surrounded.

Watch Manager Mark Blakebrough said:

"Firefighters worked really hard to stop the fire from spreading to the rest of the building and the building next door.

A house has been left uninhabitable after a chimney fire in Rawreth.

Crews were called to a house fire in Chelmsford Road, Rawreth at 1:50pm.

When three fire crews arrived, they reported the roof of the large house was completely alight and requested the assistance of a further crew and an Aerial Ladder Platform.

The fire was extinguished by 2:53pm.

The fire started in a chimney flue.

Firefighters are urging smokers to discard of smoking materials properly after a discarded cigarette left a family homeless after a fire in Epping yesterday.

Crews were called to Ivy Chimneys, Epping at 4:42pm.

On arrival, firefighters reported that a house was heavily smoke logged and there was a fire outside spreading into the kitchen.

Crews extinguished the fire by 5:49pm and believe it was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Firefighters have spent the night tackling a fire in Doddinghurst.

We were first called to multiple vehicles on fire in Warren Lane, Doddinghurst at 6:03pm.

A crew from Brentwood Fire Station attended and on arrival, reported that two cars were on fire and a further four were burnt out.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 6:51pm.

Crews were then called back to the scene at 10:20pm to reports that an outbuilding was on fire.

Six crews were sent to the scene where an outbuilding measuring 20 metres by 10 metres and containing straw was on fire.

A family has been left homeless after a dishwasher fire in Saffron Walden today.

Firefighters were called to Ozier Court at 3:01pm.

On arrival, crews reported that a house was heavily smoke logged.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the smoke logged house and found a fire in the kitchen.

Crews extinguished the fire by 3:49pm and believe it was caused by an electrical fault with a dishwasher.

A family of four has been rendered homeless due to smoke and fire damage throughout the property.

Firefighters helped a 35-year-old horse get back on his feet today after he fell in a barn in Langdon Hills.

Specially trained firefighters from Chelmsford Fire Station's Animal Rescue Unit attended the incident along with local firefighters from Orsett Fire Station.

The crews worked together to lift the horse with our equipment while he was closely monitored by a vet.

Crews helped the horse back on his feet by 2:17pm and he was left in the care of his owner and the vet.